The Gold Hunters' Adventures Part 73

"Because I have met a number of Americans here at Ballarat, and I never knew one to do a dishonest action, no matter how hard he strove to make money. But what makes me feel positive in this case that I shan't lose my funds, is the honesty expressed in your faces."

"Pray spare our blushes, Mr. Brown," Fred said, laughing, "for we have not met with so much praise since we have been in Australia."

"Then you have been thrown in contact with rogues, who didn't give honest men their due. But speak; is my offer accepted?"

"We will consider on it, and let you know how we feel disposed, in the course of the day. But of one thing rest a.s.sured. We shall not call upon you for money, as we can manage to raise enough of our own to commence business."

Mr. Inspector Brown looked disappointed, and seemed to think that we had been playing with him.

"We only plead poverty to see if you would lend us your powerful a.s.sistance," Fred said. "If we should conclude to follow your advice, we will be sure and ask aid from you if we require it."

"Well, on such conditions I forgive the little trick you have played upon me; and now I will explain more fully the idea that I entertain regarding my money-making scheme. You must set Smith at work, in company with another driver or freighter, and let them bring such articles as will find a ready market. A stock must be laid in, sufficient to last nearly all winter, for during the wet season the roads are next to impa.s.sable, and provisions go up like a rocket, only they forget to fall until good weather begins, and freighting gets brisk."

"But what articles are best for the market of Ballarat?" I inquired, beginning to grow interested in the inspector's scheme, in spite of myself.

"Smith can tell you as well as I, but I may as well answer the question while my tongue is loose. Flour is our great staple here, and is selling at a large profit on Melbourne prices. Let Smith, or some one that he may select, watch the potato market closely, and often great bargains may be picked up. Ship bread is also paying a big profit, while pork and rice can be made to cover all expense of freighting other articles.

Pickles and vinegar, and even preserved meats, sell well, and, in fact, more money is gained by selling luxuries than dispensing more substantial articles. A large stock of tea, coffee, and liquids of all kinds, will enable you to open the most extensive store in Ballarat"

"That is so," echoed Smith, approvingly.

We were about to make further inquiries, when, breathless with haste, a miner rushed into our tent.

"In the name of G.o.d, Mr. Inspector, come and help me!" he gasped.

"Why, what is the matter, Bill?" Mr. Brown asked, quite coolly.

"It is matter enough. Our mine has caved in, and both Sam and Jack are buried alive! Help me get them out and you shall have a share of the gold they have got on their persons."

"Did I not tell you, no longer ago than yesterday, that you was not shaping your shaft properly?" demanded the inspector, sharply.

"I know that you did, but we thought that we could save a few pounds, and run a little risk," replied the miner, in a humble tone.

"And a pretty mess you have made of it with your meanness. I have a great mind to let you do your own work, and save the lives of your comrades as best you can," and Mr. Brown looked cross.

"Don't say that, sir, when two poor human beings are probably dying.

Hadn't you better help them first and scold them afterwards, if alive?"

I inquired.

"Your advice is too good to go unheeded," returned Mr. Brown; "Bill, I will go with you at once, and do all in my power to a.s.sist you to rescue your comrades."

The miner led the way towards his claim at a brisk trot, and while we followed at his heel's, Mr. Brown explained what we afterwards found often happened at Ballarat. Through neglect to buy staves, or heavy pieces of timber to keep the sides of the shaft from caving in, the poor fellows had been suddenly buried, and it was a question whether they could exist long enough to allow of a force to remove the earth which blocked up the entrance of the shaft.

When we reached the scene of the disaster not more than a dozen people were present, and they did not display any intense affliction at the catastrophe. Five or six were smoking and lounging about, discussing the probabilities of the miners being alive, yet showing no great inclination to commence work and put all doubts to rest.

One miner--an aged man who had worked in the coal mines of Newcastle, England--expressed a decided opinion that both Sam and Jack were alive, and proceeded to demonstrate it by saying that the mine had been worked for some time, and it was probable that the men were at some distance from the shaft when the earth caved in; and when I asked how they could exist without air, he pointed out a large shaft that had fallen in such a manner that it prevented the dirt from filling up a large s.p.a.ce, although it appeared to me as though hardly a ray of light could penetrate the crevice.

"If you think the men alive, why do you not commence working for their rescue?" I asked, indignantly.

"Hoot, man, who's to pay me for the time I'd be losing, while helping other folks. It's me own bread and b.u.t.ter I hiv to earn widout running after strange kinds of jobs," answered the old miner, a Scotchman; he was determined to be paid for his labor, and did not believe in charitable deeds unless one of his countrymen was concerned.

"Why, you don't mean to say that you require payment for helping dig out the men buried?" I demanded.

"Hoot, and why not, man? It's mickle a man gets here for his work, that he should be after throwing it awa."

"Is this a fair sample of the charity miners exhibit towards each other?" Fred asked of the inspector.

"I am sorry to say that it is; but this is not unusual; before you leave the mines you will see cases of selfishness that will make you think men have turned brutes, and possess the hearts of stoics," replied Mr.

Brown, with a shrug of his shoulders.

"I confess," Fred said, speaking so that those present could hear him, "that I have not lost all feelings of humanity, and that I never turned a deaf ear, or calculated what I should make by a.s.sisting a person in distress. The customs of Ballarat may be just, but I must say, that in my humble opinion, they are heartless and cruel."

"Hoot, man," replied the Scotchman; "you are but a boy, and have not been long enough here to understand us. It's little silver or gold ye will git if ye run after other people's business."

The Scotchman relighted his pipe, and was walking towards his tent, when Fred stopped him.

"What shall I pay you per hour for a.s.sisting to rescue the miners?" he asked.

"Ah, now man, ye is talking to some purpose, now. What will you give?"

"Two shillings per hour," answered Fred, at a venture.

"Ah, well, I don't mind helping the poor fellows, at that rate. I never could stand distress. But, Misther, ye wouldn't mind paying in advance, I suppose?"

"I will be responsible for your pay," the inspector said, seeing that the man hesitated from fear that he should get cheated, after he had performed his part of the bargain.

The fellow, luckily, had an axe with him, so, without more delay, we lowered him into the shaft, and set him at work shoring up the sides, so that others could work without danger of the earth caving in.

We had just got him employed, when Bill, the man who had first appealed to the inspector for help, again joined us, having been absent in search of friends to lend a.s.sistance.

"I can't get a man to aid me," he cried, "unless I promise to pay them for their labor."

"Well, then, you must pay them," briefly rejoined the inspector, who, with coat off, was hard at work cutting timber in proper lengths for sh.o.r.es and supports.

"And ruin myself by so doing," the heartless wretch exclaimed, in a sulky manner, and with the expression of a fiend.

The inspector made no reply, but continued his labor, and without delay we joined him.

"I don't suppose these young fellers would be willin' to allow me two shillin's per hour for workin', would they?" the impudent scamp asked, appealing to the inspector.

"Hark ye, Bill," Mr. Brown said; "if you are not stripped and in that shaft in less than five minutes, I'll not only drive you from the mines, but I'll levy on your property to pay all the expenses of this job. I know where you keep your dust, and can lay my hand on it at any time."

The brute, without a moment's delay, removed his heavy guernsey frock which he wore, and was lowered to a place beside the Scotchman.

By the time we had got fairly at work, we were joined by Smith, who had remained behind to attend to the wants of his cattle, and the honest fellow, without a moment's delay, lent us his powerful aid.

The novelty of seeing three strangers at work endeavoring to save the lives of unfortunate miners, began to attract attention, and we soon found that a large crowd was a.s.sembling.

Fred, in his eager and impetuous manner, appealed for volunteers; and he painted the duty that man owes to man in such fine colors, that a dozen or twenty burly fellows presented themselves, and demanded a chance to a.s.sist in the benevolent work.